A qualitative study exploring patient shadowing as a method to improve patient-centred care: 10 principles for a new gold standard
11 January 2023
Topics and programmes
In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis on patient experience as a dimension of quality in healthcare and subsequently a drive to understand care from the patient’s perspective. Patient shadowing is an approach that has been used in service improvement projects, but its potential as a quality improvement (QI) method has not been studied in practical and replicable detail.
Objective: This new research aimed to produce clear guidance on patient shadowing for future Quality Improvement projects.
Conclusion: The findings led to a new set of ‘gold standard’ principles to benefit both staff and patients where shadowing is used as a QI method. These, together with new guidance, will ensure that shadowing is conducted as a team exercise, that all those involved are more robustly prepared and supported and that its purpose as a method to improve patient experience will be better understood.
Key words: quality improvement, patient-centred care, patient shadowing, patient experience, guidelines.